Rail Car Repairers Salary
Rail Car Repairers in Maryland make a median of $89,430 a year, or about $43 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $90,553 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $89K get you in Maryland?
About rail car repairers
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for rail car repairers, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,795/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level rail car repairers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Rail Car Repairers salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $89K | +0% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track rail car repairers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a rail car repairer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 32% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for rail car repairers in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new rail car repairers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,884/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is rail car repairer a high-paying job in Maryland?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $89K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for rail car repairers?
Maryland pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do rail car repairers make in Maryland?
The median is $89,430 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,740, and experienced rail car repairers can clear $103,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,602/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 32% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a rail car repairers salary go in Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median rail car repairers salary is worth about $90,553 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do rail car repairers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.